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Car builder and owner, Leo Matte goes back to
the early days of stock car racing in that region that includes
northern Massachusetts, southern Vermont, and southeastern New Hampshire. Before
I started doing this work, I was completely unaware of this fantastically -
successful owner. I still lack a lot of basic information on him - such as where
he was from, and how long he continued to field cars. I just felt he deserved to
have a page with at least some of his cars and drivers
EARLIER DAYS
Courtesy of Brad
Charland
Some 8MM footage of the Brattleboro Speedway in West Brattleboro, VT gave me my first look at a Leo Matte car.
 Courtesy of Dan Ody This frame shows the Matte 107, on the outside at Brattleboro, lapping cars. This was Charland's 1st win ever. |
 Courtesy of Dan Ody Charland moves to the inside to pass in this frame. |
 Courtesy of Dan Ody This frame shows the Matte 107, on the outside in a lineup. It is in the back row. |
 Courtesy of Dan Ody This might be a closer up view of the previous frame . |
 Courtesy of Dan Ody This frame shows Leo Matte and Charland, somewhere in the middle at Rene's 1st win ever. |
 Source Unknown This frame shows the Matte 107, on the track at Beech Ridge Speedway in Scarborough, ME. |
 Courtesy of Brad Charland This photo shows the Matte 107, ready to be towed to some 1950's track in New England. |
 Courtesy of Brad Charland This photo shows the Matte 107 powerplant. |
 Courtesy of Brad Charland The Matte 107 powerplant from a different angle. |
 Courtesy of Brad Charland Charland clowning it up a bit with a lug wrench. |
 Courtesy of Brad Charland The 107 at home. |
 Source Unknown One of the few photos that show Leo Matte. Leo [rt] works with driver Big Ed Patnode.]It is unclear if Ed came before or after Charland. |
 Courtesy of Chip Cormie Ed Patnode, at Rhythm Inn Speedway in northern Massachusetts. It's likely the car he helped to construct. |
 Courtesy of Cho Lee Charland, with the 107 - possibly at Brattleboro. |
 Courtesy of Brad Charland Charland with an earlier Matte number variation. |
 Shany Lorenzent Photo Courtesy of Dave Dykes Ray "Zero" Brown at Lonsdale, RI with a Matte Grand American car. |
 Source Unknown Ray Brown with an earlier Matte car. |
 Courtesy of Brad Charland Rene Charland ends up on his side with a very early Matte 207 at Riverside Park. |
LATER CARS
Source Unknown
 Courtesy of Vintage Mod SIte George Lombardo with what is said to be a Matte car. The 92 was apparently later reversed for those 29 cars. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes Benny Germano, with a Camerota sponsored car. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes George Lombardo. The car is carrying a Suffield sponsorship. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes Benny Germano, with obviously the same Suffield sponsored car. Does this mean Leo prepared those cars too ? |
 Courtesy of Sam Barlow Benny Germano, with a Camerota sponsored car winning at Empire Raceway, Menands, NY. |
 Courtesy of Gary Williams Another Ed Patnode car. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes Ed Patnode. The car is carrying a Fenton sponsorship here. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes Jerry Humiston. The car is carrying a Camerota sponsorship. |
 Courtesy of mainautorepair.com This Jap Membrino 92 is said to be a Matte. |
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